In Memoriam A.H.H. MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: March 1, 2025

Summary:

“In Memoriam A.H.H.” is a long elegy written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, dedicated to his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam, who died suddenly in 1833 at the age of 22. The poem, published in 1850, reflects Tennyson’s deep grief, struggle with faith, and gradual acceptance of loss.

The poem is composed of 131 sections, exploring themes of grief, faith, immortality, and the meaning of life and death. Initially, Tennyson expresses deep sorrow and despair, questioning God’s purpose and the fairness of life. However, as the poem progresses, he gradually finds comfort in the idea of an afterlife and the endurance of love. The famous line “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” comes from this poem, emphasizing the value of love despite pain.

Ultimately, the poem serves as both a personal expression of mourning and a philosophical reflection on human existence and divine providence.

MCQs:

1. Who is the poem In Memoriam A.H.H. dedicated to?
   A) Tennyson’s father
   B) His wife Emily Tennyson
   C) Arthur Henry Hallam
   D) William Wordsworth
   Answer: C) Arthur Henry Hallam
2. What is the main theme of the poem?
   A) Romantic love
   B) The pain of grief and hope for the afterlife
   C) Political revolution
   D) The beauty of nature
   Answer: B) The pain of grief and hope for the afterlife
3. Which famous line is from In Memoriam A.H.H.?
   A) “Nature, red in tooth and claw”
   B) “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
   C) “Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.”
   D) “The old order changeth, yielding place to new.”
   Answer: B) “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

   

4. When was In Memoriam A.H.H. published?
   A) 1833
   B) 1842
   C) 1850
   D) 1889
   Answer: C) 1850
5. What personal struggle does Tennyson express in the poem?
   A) His battle with illness
   B) His loss of faith and search for meaning after Hallam’s death
   C) His disappointment in love
   D) His anger at political injustice
   Answer: B) His loss of faith and search for meaning after Hallam’s death
6. What does Tennyson ultimately conclude about grief and loss?
   A) That death is meaningless
   B) That love and faith endure beyond death
   C) That time erases all sorrow
   D) That revenge is the only answer
   Answer: B) That love and faith endure beyond death
7. Which of the following poetic devices is frequently used in the poem?
   A) Alliteration
   B) Metaphor
   C) Personification
   D) All of the above
   Answer: D) All of the above
8. What form is In Memoriam A.H.H. written in?
   A) Blank verse
   B) Heroic couplets
   C) Iambic tetrameter quatrains
   D) Free verse
   Answer: C) Iambic tetrameter quatrains
9. What major Victorian concern is reflected in the poem?
   A) The Industrial Revolution
   B) The conflict between science and religion
   C) Political reform
   D) Colonial expansion
   Answer: B) The conflict between science and religion
10. How does the poem end?
    A) With Tennyson still in deep sorrow
    B) With a hopeful vision of faith and reunion in the afterlife
    C) With anger at fate
    D) With a complete rejection of religion
    Answer: B) With a hopeful vision of faith and reunion in the afterlife